Honor Their Service

When Fort Ord closed two decades ago the community promised to build a veterans cemetery to provide veterans and their families with a final resting place that honors their achievements and sacrifices on behalf of our nation. It is well past time we made good on that promise.

In order to provide veterans and their families with a final resting place that acknowledges and honors their achievements and sacrifices on behalf of our nation, the Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery capital campaign mission is to honor those who have served the cause of freedom by raising local funds to deliver the promise of a Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery at the former Fort Ord Army Base.

What you can do.

Situated on Fort Ord, the projected cemetery site encompasses gently rolling hills with the natural and scenic beauty of Monterey Bay. As a lasting tribute to those who served in the armed forces, the new cemetery will remind future generations that we honor our veterans who were instrumental in preserving our nation’s freedom. When completed, the cemetery will serve all veterans, including the approximately 100,000 veterans and their families that live within the service area of the Central Coast region. The five counties that are within that area are Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Santa Clara, and San Luis Obispo.

The total cost of Phase I is $9,414,000. This includes $ 6,327,200 for construction and the remainder for architecture, planning, administration, and other fees and contingences.

Congressman Sam Farr is in the process of securing $6,797,000 from the Federal Government. That leaves $2,617,00 that needs to be raised at the state and local level. With Senator Bill Monning’s and Assembly member Mark Stone’s leadership in moving SB232 through the State Senate and Assembly, we believe Sacramento will provide at least $1,000,000. This leaves a local need of $1,617,000.

Home

Raising $1,617,000 locally will be leveraged to bring in $7,797,000 in state and federal money and will complete the capital campaign for Phase 1. Your contribution will first be put towards this local need for the capital campaign and any remaining funds will go towards Phase 2 and the endowment to support the ongoing operations and enhancements of the cemetery. Your tax deductible contribution to the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County will help make the cemetery a reality.

BY PHONE Call the Community Foundation at 831.375.9712 weekdays between 8:30-5:00 PM to make a donation with your credit card.

GIFTS OF STOCK To donate gifts of stock, real estate or other assets, call the Community Foundation at 831.375.9712.

Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Fund is a fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

America is strong because of the men and women in uniform who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. As Secretary of Defense, I will forever be proud of those who responded to the call of duty . . . now and throughout our history. They heard the call of the trumpet and they were there for us. Now it is our turn to be there for them. To give them the dignity and honor of finding a final resting place near their families and their communitities on the Central Coast. The Veterans Cemetery is our way of saying thank you for the bravery, courage and sacrifices that have protected the blessing of liberty for ourselves and our children.